title: Efficacy of 'Tailored Physical Activity' in reducing sickness absence among health care workers: design of a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health care workers have high physical work demands, involving patient handling and manual work tasks. A strategy for prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders can enhance the physical capacity of the health care worker. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of 'Tailored Physical Activity' for health care workers in the Sonderborg Municipality.
  
  
  METHODS
  This protocol describes the design of a randomised controlled trial to assess the efficacy of 'Tailored Physical Activity' versus a reference group for health care workers in the Sonderborg Municipality. Inclusion criteria to be fulfilled: health care workers with daily work that includes manual work and with the experience of work-related musculoskeletal pain in the back or upper body.All participants will receive 'Health Guidance', a (90-minute) individualised dialogue focusing on improving life style, based on assessments of risk behaviour, on motivation for change and on personal resources. In addition, the experimental groups will receive 'Tailored Physical Activity' (three 50-minute sessions per week over 10 weeks). The reference group will receive only 'Health Guidance'.The primary outcome measure is the participants' self-reported sickness absence during the last three months due to musculoskeletal troubles, measured 3 and 12 months after baseline.In addition, secondary outcomes include anthropometric measurements, functional capacity and self-reported number of sick days, musculoskeletal symptoms, self-reported health, work ability, work productivity, physical capacity, kinesiophobia and physical functional status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results from this study will contribute to the knowledge about evidence-based interventions for prevention of sickness absence among health care workers.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01543984.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. lonygaard@health.sdu.dk.
authors.forename: Lotte Nygaard
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Juul-Kristensen
authors.forename: Kirsten Kaya
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Roessler
authors.forename: Lene Gram
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Herborg
authors.forename: Thomas Lund
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Søgaard
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000592:standards*; D012107:Research Design; D018582:Sick Leave; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires